In this regard, during the recent years President of the country Emomali Rahmon has repeatedly stated our stance on water agenda, including from the tribunes of the 63rd and 64th sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, as well as in the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit and other international forums.

Technical feasibility, economic viability and ecological safety of Roghun HPP has been inspected many times and this project has never been negatively evaluated, but the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, expressing good will and aspiration for open and transparent dialogue with all interested parties, applied to the World Bank, represented as an authorized UN structure, with request for conducting an independent international expertise of the project on completion of hydro-power plant’s construction.

In response to this request with the World Bank assistance, a feasibility study and socio-environmental impact assessment are being successfully conducted and two groups of independent international experts are working simultaneously, one group on technical and economic issues and dam safety, and another group on social and ecological aspects.

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan is fruitfully cooperating with international consultants, a group of international experts, World Bank and the public circles of downstream countries on results of the mentioned research. This research covers a wide range of issues, including the issues of safety, recoupment, term of reservoir fillup, water resources management, social and ecological impact and in this connection it should not cause any concern, voiced by some parties.

On coordination with international consultants, a group of experts and specialists of the World Bank the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan considers the construction of a whole complex of project and does not intend to build any interim construction of a first phase of HPP. Tajikistan assists the international consultants in every possible way with a view to successfully complete the assessment and expects the results of international expertise, conducting at the same time repair-and-renewal operations in the Roghun HPP.

There has been no serious controversy between the consortium and Tajik side up to date.

In general, with reference to an implementation of this project, Tajikistan remains committed to the agreement achieved earlier and will adhere to the principles of transparency and corporate management, observing the operational procedures of the World Bank.